As I do on most Saturdays, I went to my local record store, Newbury Comics. They were having a moving sale which meant there was less to choose from but I could buy twice as much as I normally do. What a good start to the day.
As I browsed around, I began to think about how I choose the music that I buy. In most cases it is based on recommendations from friends, songs I have heard on the radio, or MP3 blogs I have read. Sometimes though I walk into a store, as I did this morning, with no set list of music in mind. What drives these types of purchases?
Personally I think it is instinct. This innate knowledge of what music you will like is based an unlimited number of factors that blends your own life experiences with the music genre’s that are laid out before you. This powerful combination of memories, images, sounds, emotions, and curiosity in conjunction with how music is inherently categorized helps guide you through the sea of artists and ultimately deliver you what you want, or more importantly, what you need. What’s great is that your needs could change every time depending on the moods or thoughts that are following you around on that specific day.
Try it out sometime. Go to a record store without a game plan and let go. Of course you will end up with some duds every once in a while, but in most cased I bet you will be surprised at the great things you end up with.
The albums that I bought today represent what happens when I let my instinct take over. Today it all worked out nicely.
Artist: The Derek Trucks BandAlbum: Already Free
Why: I took a flier on this one (i.e. Never heard them before) because it was in the #2 slot of Newbury Comic’s top 50 CD’s and I liked the album cover. It turned out to be a great choice especially if you like blues/rock.
Artist: Black SheepAlbum: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Why: This album was set to repeat for about 2 months during college circa 1995 and it was only $4.99! Good, clean, poppy, and cheap rap from my past translates to a no-brainer for me.
Artist: The D.O.C.Album: No One Can Do It Better
Why: In high school all I listen to was Rap. I used to play the first song on this album every time I got into my 1985 Buick Century. Dr. Dre produced, this is rap before it became crap.
Artist: TV On The RadioAlbum: Dear Science
Why: I have known about them for a while now but never really got into their music. I have been hearing their new tracks on Woxy.com recently and felt it was time to get on the wagon once and for all.
Artist: DJ Mark FarinaAlbum: Mushroom Jazz Six
Why: This is the only selection that I brought home on Vinyl and is another one I had never heard. I own other selections by Mark Farina and enjoy his chill jazz selections. They are great when you are looking relax, lounge around, and do some listening.
So what factors going into the music purchases that you make?
Enjoy.
